Chapter 11
NOEL
I flicked a glance his way, then refocused on frosting the cinnamon rolls on the cooling rack in front of me. My cheeks were hot, but that was just from all the baking.
I didn’t know if Hopper had complied, but I had thought of nothing else since.
“Noel has been baking!” Mom said, voice cheery. “He’s already made three dozen cinnamon rolls. Isn’t that amazing?”
“Wow.” Hopper came over to inspect my handiwork, standing close enough I could feel his body heat. “My mouth is watering.”
I froze, unsure if that comment was innocent or a sexual innuendo. When I glanced at Hopper, he was smiling smugly. So, probably the latter. Well, I could work with that.
“You’re not the first man to say that to me,” I purred with a wink.
He reached out for a roll, and I batted his hand away. “No touching, buddy.”
“Somehow, I doubt I’m the first man you’ve said that to either.”
I smiled innocently. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Hopper, there’s a pan of rolls for us over by the coffeepot,” Mom said as she pushed up from the table. “Noel made a smaller batch just for us. Isn’t that sweet?”
“It sure is,” Hopper said, holding my eye as Mom headed for the back door with an eager Cinnamon at her heels. “Noel is the sweetest.”
Somehow, the power I’d held over him last night, when I caught him in nothing but a towel, was gone.
But that wouldn’t do. I was the one who should be in control.
“How did you sleep, Hopper? When I saw you last night, you seemed a little…tense.”
Hopper chuckled, moving past me to pick up a cinnamon roll that was already cooled and frosted.
“I slept really well, actually,” Hopper said. “Thanks for the tip last night. It was just what I needed.”
Oh, he was playing with fire, wasn’t he?
He took a bite of the roll, moaning with pleasure. “Damn, this is incredible.”
“Not the first man to tell me that either,” I teased.
“Oh, it was rude of me not to ask.” He raised an eyebrow. “How did you sleep, Noel? Did you take your own advice?”
I scowled, annoyed that he was so good at this game. Who had taught Hopper Kelly to flirt so well? Scratch that. I didn’t want to know. As far as I was concerned, Hopper was as untouched as the season’s first snow.
“No,” I said. “I had baking to do.”
“Ah, right. The baking. You got a lot done.”
“Not enough,” I said with a sigh. “I would have had four dozen rolls, but baking isn’t my specialty. I screwed up my first batch of dough.”
He eyed the batches of cinnamon rolls already packaged up for sale in the shop. “So this is your idea of a failure, huh? Damn. You must be a hell of a chef.”
My stomach fluttered at the compliment. “I do okay.”
“More than okay,” Mom said, returning from letting Cinnamon outside. “You’re a head chef! We’re so proud of you, honey.”
“We sure are,” Dad said as he shuffled into the kitchen and took a seat. “Hopper, you mind bringing me one of those delicious cinnamon rolls?”
“Oh, that’s a lot of sugar and butter,” Mom said with concern.
Dad shook his head. “I don’t care. I woke to the most heavenly smell, and I have to have one. If it kills me, then I’ll die a happy man.”
She sighed. “Fine. It’s your funeral.”
“That’s right. Mine. I’ll decide when I kick it, thank you very much.”
Hopper plated up a second cinnamon roll and took it over to my dad. “I doubt one cinnamon roll will kill you, Ed.” He cast a look at Mom. “But if it does, you better stay dead, or Maggie’s likely to kill you again.”
Dad chuckled and lifted the cinnamon roll to take a big bite. “Damn, I was wrong. I’m already dead, and this is heaven.”
“Noel’s an angel, then,” Mom said.
Hopper cast me a look. He didn’t say a word, but I knew he was thinking of last night and what I’d said to him. How very sinful I’d been.
“I’m going to make a batch of Christmas cookies, too,” I said. “I want to package up some of those decorating sets you used to do. Do we have any extra icing or sprinkles?”
“No, you’ll have to run into town,” Mom said. “Sorry, hon. Things have been crazy with your dad’s recovery.”
I finished frosting the last roll and moved to the sink to rinse the frosting bowl.
“Don’t apologize. That’s why I’m here. To help pick up the slack.
” I dried my hands on a dish towel. “I’ve got to go open the shop.
I’ll get the cinnamon rolls out for sale, and then, Mom, if you can cover for a couple of hours, I’ll run to the store and get those supplies to finish the cookie kits. ”
“Of course, Noel. If you weren’t here, I’d be running the shop all day, anyway. Two hours is more than fine, sweetie.”
I turned to Hopper. “Maybe we can hang those Christmas lights by the entrance after we close?”
Hopper sipped his coffee. “Actually, I’ve got plans to go out tonight.”
“Oh.”
“Business should be slower next week. We can tackle it then.”
“Okay.”
But where was Hopper going tonight? To find a hookup at the bar? Or worse, to meet a hookup he’d previously arranged? Or a boyfriend. Oh, shit. Why hadn’t I considered the possibility that he had a boyfriend? Hopper was a catch. Of course he’d have a boyfriend.
I thought of what I’d said to him last night in that new light, and I wanted to sink through the floor and disappear.
“If you really want the lights up sooner, I can try to fit it in on my own today,” Hopper said, misreading my spiraling. “It’ll be busy, but—”
“No.” I laughed awkwardly. “Sorry, I was just thinking of all this baking I need to get done. So busy!”
“Okay.” He stood and brought his small dessert plate and coffee cup to the sink. “Just don’t work too hard, Noel. How will we go on when you leave?”
I tried for a smile and missed. “Oh, I know you’re perfectly capable without me. I’m just trying to make up for some lost time.”
“Well, you’re efficient as hell. Slow down and stay for a while. Your parents like having you around.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Hopper ran his cup under the faucet. “Good. And while you’re at it, try to remember that they don’t love you for your food, Noel. You can just…be here, you know?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Says the man with frosting in his beard.”
He set down his cup and ran his hand over his beard, ears turning red. “Dang beard is always catching everything in it.”
“A built-in napkin,” I teased.
“The cinnamon roll was delicious,” he said. “I’m not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree, but if you put something tasty in front of me, I’m going to bite.”
“Really?” I said. “And how does your boyfriend feel about that?”
“Boyfriend?” He looked nonplussed. “What made you think I had a boyfriend?”
I shrugged. “You’re going out tonight. I thought maybe…”
“Oh, no.” He chuckled. “Probably wouldn’t have needed the box in your room if I had a boyfriend. It’s been a long time since I dated anyone.” He lowered his voice. “It’s just simpler to find a hookup, you know?”
“Yeah,” I said, heart sinking.
So, cruising for a hookup, it was. I waited a beat to see if he’d invite me along. Maybe Hopper would want me to be that hookup. But an awkward silence descended, killing that fantasy in its tracks.
Damn.
I turned away. “I better get this last batch of rolls packaged so I can open the store on time.”
He hesitated. “I’ll see you out there, then.”
It took only two hours at the shop before we were down to one package of cinnamon rolls. I watched each one sell with a mix of pleasure and resentment. Now, I’d have to make more, along with the cookie kits and the peanut brittle I wanted to get done.
With a sigh, I started a list of all the supplies I’d need to buy at the store later.
When there was a lull, I called Mom to watch the shop and headed out to my rental car. As soon as I was inside, I called Kody, crossing my fingers he’d have a few free minutes.
“Hey, Noel! I was just thinking about you!” Kody said when he picked up.
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah, if you’re not too busy with the job hunt, I’d love you to come over for our first wine tasting.”
“Oh, well, I would, but I’m still in Nebraska.”
“Right, you went for Thanksgiving. How is your dad?”
“He’s doing pretty good, all things considered,” I said. “I’m probably going to stick around here a while. They’ve got a Christmas tree farm, and they need some help with it.”
I started the car and switched the phone to hands-free as I turned down the lane.
“Okay. So, what’s up? I assume you didn’t call just to say hi.”
“Well, I always like to catch up, but actually, I was hoping I could pick your brain about some ideas. Like I said, my parents have this tree farm, but they’ve kind of let it slip a bit.”
“Okay…”
“Well, I want to revive it a bit, you know? Make sure they’re all set for a strong season after I leave. And maybe…”
“Maybe what?”
I hesitated to put it into words. Maybe my parents would decide to retire, and if they did, they’d get a better price for the farm if it wasn’t a faded version of its old self.
My heart twisted. I hated the idea of selling, even if it was best for them. It would break Dad’s heart to leave it, and the idea of never returning home, of never being able to revisit my childhood memories, was depressing.
“Maybe nothing,” I said. “I just want to liven up the farm with more events. And I thought, who better to ask than someone from Christmas Falls? How can I turn this tree farm into the holiday mecca of Elkhorn County?”
“Elkhorn County.” He laughed. “You really are out in the boonies.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I came to a stop at the end of the lane and flipped on my right blinker to take me to Granville. I loved the little Meat Market there, run by the Ellis family. “So, are you going to help me or not?”
“Don’t worry, Noel. You came to the right place. I’m going to give your number to Griff. He’s our festival organizer, and he’s a total idea machine. Before you know it, that Christmas tree farm will be glowing with new life.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” I said with a smile. “Thanks, Kody.”
“No problem.” He paused. “You sound happier, Noel. Did you get some good news on the job front?”
“No, not yet.” Truth be told, I’d barely given my career any thought since getting home. “I’ve been focused on my family.”
“Well, it sounds like it’s doing you good.”
We said our goodbyes, and I disconnected, but Kody’s words lingered.
I thought of the kitchen this morning, Mom’s delighted smile when she saw the baking I’d done, Dad’s praise, and even Hopper’s teasing.
My chest warmed.
It was nice to be home. I could admit that much. But sooner or later, I’d have to leave. I had a career to repair. A whole life in Chicago, just waiting for me.
So, why did the thought of going back there leave me so cold?